February '14 Update - Rooted in Christ

Evia sharing to primary school students

Maba with James and Victor

Team reflecting and praying after the trip

Valentine's Day Dinner Date

Evivi holding her certificate proudly

Maba with Pastor Amini

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-9

This passage encouraged and challenged us this past month in several ways. We focused on increasing our faith by pouring ourselves into God’s Word and studying resources we have at home. As 2014 kicks into high gear our prayer is that God would lift us up to be better prepared and more effective as we serve and minister to others. What a blessing it is to be rooted in Christ where He is our foundation, peace, and hope! As we are firmly fixed on our Savior, nothing can shake us! We possess full, abundant lives as we step out in faith and obedience. Maba and I seek wisdom for the future of our marriage/family and ministry and are challenged that in times of waiting for direction from the Lord we are not to sit idle or be passive but continue to bear fruit!

February Mission Events

·      Kadavu EE Mission Team Testimonies – After returning to the mainland, most of the team were able to meet together for a time of reflection and prayer at our home where Maba and I also prepared a few treats for the team. It was so encouraging to hear these young individuals share how the experience greatly impacted their faith! I had them write down their testimonies so here are what a few of their shared:

o   EVIA (21 yr. old young lady) – “The mission trip was a life-changing experience for me because it really helped me understand how God can use young people to build His Kingdom. The trip not only helped me come out of my comfort zone but it also increased my faith in Christ. It is more than just attending youth group or Sunday services, it is also being able to reach out to unsaved people. Through this trip God also showed me how He is our great Provider because I was worried about support-raising. However, as I surrendered all of it to the Lord I saw Him care for my needs and expenses in amazing ways! It also challenged me to be bold and courageous because before it was always hard for me to stand and speak in front of many people and share a testimony or share my faith. I thank God for Sarah and Maba who were always there to push me and encourage me to do all things for the glory of God as His ambassadors. They also reminded me that we just need to take the first step of faith and God will do the rest. Through this opportunity I was able to lead 7 young boys to the Lord, which was a wonderful experience!”

o   VICTOR (22 yr. old) – “On semester break, Sarah and Maba approached me to do the EE training and be part of the mission team. I was excited for this adventure with new things to be discovered. Two great things that encouraged me were how the team was organized and so unified. Ten people from different denominations working together for one purpose really challenged me. God indeed separated the denominational walls that surrounded us and enabled us to work together in reaching the people of Kadavu. I personally have never been part of such a wonderful, life-transforming mission trip ever. It was amazing to see people who held an incorrect view of goods works as their salvation come to know the truth that eternal life is a free gift and that it is only through faith in Jesus we are saved. All that pushed me to do more for God and reach out to more people, both Christians and unbelievers. Having known Sarah and Maba, learning so much from them, and being part of one of this mission team, I have been really blessed. Now that I am back in university where the busy demands of a student’s life are increasing day after day, I now understand that I don’t have an excuse for not being able to share my faith. I am now training 5 young guys in EE who are part of the campus ministry at my university and more people are excited to also learn. I look forward to see how God will use us to witness and minister to other students!

o   JAMES (21 yr. old) – To go out for missions is something that I always wanted to experience which allows you to be away from friends and loved ones. Being connected with Sarah and Maba’s ministry and the ministry of EE has opened my eyes to the needs, sacrifices, and blessings that come in doing mission work. The Gospel presentation of EE has taught me how to share my faith in a simple and short but very powerful way and be an effective witness in every area of my life. I was also encouraged to be more aware of the spiritual and physical needs of the lost. It was incredible to have my first mission experience in my own nation, especially to a place I had never been. Walking under the heat of the day, short sleeps, preparing for meals, and most of all visiting families for witnessing opportunities made me realize how important it is to pray for missionaries. Learning EE also deepened my knowledge of the Gospel message and gave me greater understanding of what Christ did for me at the cross. It also strengthened my relationship with God. I thank the Lord so much for the lives of Sarah and Maba who do so much to minister to those around them, especially young people like me.

·      Follow-up with EE trainees – Maba was able to contact several people who were trained in EE during our island mission trip last month. Maba encouraged them how to train others and expand their church ministry in their villages.

o   Evivi – She is a nurse at the local hospital who was unsure how and where to start training others and grab opportunities to witness. After praying and seeking help from the Lord, doors opened up in her workplace. She is now teaching other hospital staff the EE Gospel presentation. They meet several times a week to discuss and practice and then take opportunities to share to patients and other workers!

o   Amini – He is a pastor who recently moved to a different, remote area on the island with his family to plant a church. His first Sunday service only a few families attended but just after 1 week of using EE when visiting people in the area, many people were moved to tears by the Gospel and wanted to be part of the church. That next Sunday the church was full! Pastor Amini is excited to disciple these new believers and train them in EE!

·      Home Visitations – There are several families God laid upon our heart to minister to this month. We took the time to bless them with meals and spend quality time with their in their homes to encourage and pray for them. These families were experiencing different types of hardships and it was an opportunity for us to speak into their lives and remind them of our all-sufficient God who is our ultimate Provider and Redeemer. The family members were blessed and we saw them overcome difficulties and persevere in their faith!

·      Bible studies – Maba and I have had the privilege of leading Bible studies for our church small group. We are both so passionate about teaching God’s people how to break apart Scripture, discover its application, and see how it always points to Christ. It has been wonderful to see the members of our group grow in knowledge and wisdom in their personal faith as we share and fellowship together!

·      Christian School Project– This month brought a fun and unexpected opportunity to share about our mission work. I was contacted by a group of 7^th grade students from a Christian school in Alabama. They were working on an “International Day” project at school and they were assigned the country of Fiji. They google searched Fiji missionaries and stumbled upon me! They asked me to be part of their project by sending a video of myself sharing how I came to know Christ, why I wanted to become a missionary, how I came to serve in Fiji, and what mission work is like here in the islands. Maba and I were also able to help them organize other aspects of their presentation. It was amazing to minister in this way across miles and oceans! I was so encouraged when one of the parents emailed me saying “Sarah you are such a great speaker and very inspiring to listen to! We are so glad we connected with you, you truly are a very special person!”

·      Tutoring – This month I was able to conduct math tutoring for some students in our local community and to Maba’s nieces and nephews. I love being able to serve in this way and use my educational background and through that share about Jesus!

Prayer Needs

·      Continuing relationships with those we mentor and disciple

·      Organizing Adult/Youth EE and Hope for Kids trainings

·      Kadavu trainees who are implementing EE and witnessing in their community

·      Upcoming EE responsibilities at the EE centre

·      Increase of Financial Support

We are continually blessed by your support through prayer and giving! Through your partnership we are able to disciple and counsel God’s people and reach others with the message of hope. We praise God for His faithfulness and provision as we continue in doing His work here in the Fiji Islands. Please feel free to share this ministry update with those who will be encouraged and/or led to support financially!

Ways to Support:

Online - www.eeworks.org
*Click on "Support" then "Online Giving"
*Type "Sarah Maba 6124" in the box provided
*Type in amount and complete the given instructions

*If support is to be monthly – please indicate
-OR- Make checks out to Evangelism Explosion International and on memo line write "Sarah Maba 6124" (all checks tax deductible)
Mail to: Evangelism Explosion International
P.O. Box 23820 Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33307-3820

Rooted in Christ,

SARAH & MABA

January '14 Update - The Aroma of Christ

Beautiful view of Kadavu!

Team ready for a great week of mission together

Evening devotion and worship time

Our bedroom :)

Maba preaching on Sunday

Rusila testifying in the village church

Beach picnic fresh fish and dip

Morning walk around the bay

EE trainees

Refreshing waterfall adventure

Hope for Kids OJT

Team bonding

Host home family

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession

in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among

 those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one

 we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

And who is equal to such a task?”

2 Corinthians 4:14-16

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller

JANUARY was a time of cherishing the unity we have in the body of Christ and walking in God’s favor. My heart is bursting with so much joy and praise to God for how He refreshes us in His perfect timing and ways. This past month we experienced more of the sweetness of serving on the mission field and seeing brothers and sisters in Christ stepping out in faith and letting God use them to build His Kingdom. My devotional this past week reminded me that there is something so special about being part of God’s family knowing that the costs of discipleship and obedience never outweigh the spiritual rewards and benefits that come from our Heavenly Father! What a blessing it is to possess the aroma of Christ and carry His fragrance wherever we go!

Main Ministry Highlight – Kadavu Mission Trip

Kadavu is the 4th largest island in Fiji with a population of about 10,000 people within 75 villages. It is one of the least developed areas in Fiji. It is south of the mainland where we are living and known for its lush, tropical environment.

·      Fundraising – Maba and I were able to share about our trip to relatives, church members, fellow EE workers, and friends here in Fiji. As a result we raised more than $800 FJD to help with the various expenses for our trip! We thank God for bringing people to partner with us in reaching an outer island of Fiji. Several of the team members were able to fundraise for their travel costs by baking trays of pie and selling them, which was a big success!

·      Preparation – Several ministry contacts in Kadavu helped us organize for our trip. None of us had been there before so we were trusting God  since we were stepping into unknown territory. Our team had regular meetings before the trip. We were able to discuss the important aspects of the trip, fasting and praying together Tuesdays and Thursdays for half day, and review the EE materials. The team consisted of 3 local EE Fiji workers, 4 young people from our church, and a young lady from an EE church in Australia.

·      Travel – Maba and 7 members of the team traveled 4 hours by bus and 10 hours by boat to reach Kadavu! Whew, a long journey! Myself and Stephanie (from Australia) had a 40-minute flight in an 18-seater plane, which was a bit nerve-racking since you could feel even the slightest movement of the plane.  We praise God for His protection, especially returning to the mainland as a tropical cyclone was hitting Fiji! Everyone made it home safe and sound!

·      Host Home – A wonderful family (a couple and their 5 boys) opened their home to us. team slept in a large, open room where some slept on beds and others slept on the floor. Maba and I slept outside on the porch and hung up a mosquito net. The weather was so hot, so we prayed for the sea breeze to cool us in the evenings. The beach was only about 70 feet in front of our host home! It was a beautiful sight to wake up to as we were located in a big bay!

·      Trainings –

o   Adult/Youth EE Clinic – Maba and 6 team members conducted 2 trainings with a total of 29 trainees represented by 5 churches from different villages. During the On-the-Job trainings 55 people heard the Gospel and 38 prayed to receive Christ! Amen for that!

§  Testimony – 2 team members from our church, Victor and James (university students), were able to learn EE for the first time. They were so blessed by how easy it was to present the Gospel! They were excited for OJT each afternoon and took every opportunity to share. Then during the 2^nd training, Maba gave assigned them teaching units and they did an amazing job! They will go back to school this month, and they can’t wait to implement EE in their campus ministry!

§  Testimony – One of the pastors shared how he was supposed to move the previous week to plant a church in another remote area but wondered why God had kept him in that area for another week. After attending the training he knew that God had ordained his family to stay so that they could be equipped with tool of EE! He was confident that using EE in the new church plant will help to build and grow the ministry!

o   Hope for Kids Workshop – I led a workshop for 6 trainees including 2 of our team members and representing 4 churches. I was so proud of them grasping the materials quickly and practice teaching together. One afternoon we conducted OJT with 30 students from a nearby primary school of which 22 prayed to receive Christ! Praise God!

§  Testimony – One team member, Buna (also a university student), really came out of her shell as I challenged her to speak in front of a group which she would usually decline, present a teaching unit, and have a discussion about Jesus during OJT with the students. She was thankful to me for pushing her out of her comfort zone to take every opportunity to speak and serve others during the mission trip. I loved seeing her blossom and grow into a strong, confident young godly woman! When she came back from the trip she had the courage to testify about her experience during her family devotion time at home.

§  Testimony – Naomi, one of the trainees, was moved to tears at the end of the workshop. She shared that as a mother and Sunday school teacher, her passion for children’s ministry and witnessing had grown abundantly. She was blessed by the OJT as the kids were so open and wanted to ask questions about growing in faith. She not only wanted to implement the program in church but also in the local primary school! How exciting!

·      Island/Village Life – There was only one main supermarket and a small vegetable/fruit open market. Things were expensive since most things had to be shipped over from the mainland. Most people lived off their fresh catch from the sea by fishing and diving or from farming the land. People rarely ate chicken or red meat since it is hard to get. Electricity ran by generators and would turn on by 5am each morning, shut off for a few hours in the early afternoon and by midnight til the next day. There were few trucks on the island for transportation. Most people traveled by boat to different areas on the island or on foot.

·      Sunday services – In the morning we attended an Apostel church and in the afternoon an Assembly of God church. Our team took part through sharing testimonies and performing Fiji meke and worship dances. Maba and another team member were also given the privilege of preaching! It was great fellowship!

·      Adventures – When our trainings finished for the day you could find our team swimming in the beautiful ocean or at a nearby refreshing waterfall! Other days we would explore and hike. It was amazing! One day our hosting families took us to another part of the island for a beach picnic where we had fresh fish and dipped it into seawater with lemon and chili! What a treat!

·      Team Unity and Diversity – We could not have asked for a better team to lead during this mission trip! Everyone bonded so quickly and worked together to reach out to the people there! The youngest person was 18, 5 members were 21, myself and another member in our late twenties, and Maba and his cousin above that. Each person, solid in their faith and having a heart for the lost, brought their own strengths and gifts to the team. It was great to see all those things come together to accomplish mighty things for the Lord! And Stephanie from Australia adapted so quickly into the Fijian culture and way of life. She embraced the team and felt so encouraged to serve with us. It was a blessing for me to share my testimony as a young woman on the mission field with her and encourage her in all that God has called her to in Australia. At the end of each day we had our team worship and devotion time together to reflect and pray. It was wonderful to hear different team members share their heart and encourage one another.

·      Me and Maba – Leading a local team together as husband and wife was truly special. We saw God’s favor upon us throughout the trip – before, during, and after.  This trip strengthened our marriage in different ways, empowered us as leaders and missionaries, and challenged us to be ready for what God has planned for us in the future! We took a big step of faith to coordinate the trip. And then to see it come to pass and bear much fruit was a great blessing!

Prayer Needs

o   Ministry roles in the local church community

o   Kadavu trained churches to carry on the work in witnessing and equipping others with EE and our team members settling back into normal routines and recovering after the mission trip

o   Upcoming EE responsibilities at the EE centre

o   More needs of Financial Support

Your prayers and support enabled us to organize and lead a mission trip to an remote, outer island of Fiji where many are so hungry to grow spiritually and many are searching for hope! New doors were opened into areas where EE is still trying to establish ministry networks. We hope you have been blessed by this month’s update. Please share with anyone you know who will also be encouraged and may feel led to also support through prayer and giving!

Ways to Support:

Online - www.eeworks.org
*Click on "Support" then "Online Giving"
*Type "Sarah Maba 6124" in the box provided
*Type in amount and complete the given instructions

*If support is to be monthly – please indicate
-OR- Make checks out to Evangelism Explosion International and on memo line write "Sarah Maba 6124" (all checks tax deductible)
Mail to: Evangelism Explosion International
P.O. Box 23820 Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33307-3820

Abounding in His Grace,

SARAH & MABA

December '13 Update - Anointed by the King

Celebrating Niu's wedding as an EE famil

Church small group end of the year celebration and Christmas party

Young people in church Christmas fellowship and gift exchange

EE family reunion at Wilson's wedding in Navua

Nuku's 10th birthday (nieces and nephews)

Christmas package from my family back in the US

House blessing for Ranjini and Vashneel and learning how to cook South Indian dish Palau

Gingerbread house party on Christmas Eve with young people

childhood friends, mission supporters, reunion for buddies :)

Christmas lunch with Maba's family at their family home

Sailing adventure with family - beautiful and so fun!

Amazing experience with the hubby

Surprise birthday party for one of the senior citizens in church

New Year's Day beach picnic (where we got married) with our church family

Dance team in church performing together

Psalm 18:32, 50

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect….He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed.”

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! We hope you and your families were blessed celebrating the birth of our Savior and welcoming 2014! This time last year Maba and I were in the States spending the holidays with my family and taking time off from the mission field to rest and raise financial support. We praise God for the opportunity to be with Maba’s family and our local church/mission family here in Fiji this past holiday season. Maba and I enjoyed having the Christmas spirit in our home and sharing that same spirit with others and pointing them to Jesus! We were encouraged by the verses above as we saw God’s favor upon us in special ways this past month.

Local Church Ministry:

·      Our church hosted a celebration service to praise God for all that He has done in 2013. Maba and I worked with the young people to prepare 3 different dance items. We had a great time performing the items during the special service! During our involvement with the young adult ministry this year, we saw God move greatly. The ministry came alive in marvelous ways and we have created special bonds with the young people. After the service many church members came up to Maba and I raving about the wonderful performances and how each dance blessed them. People also thanked us for investing in the young people by leading and teaching, mentoring, and opening our home as a safe place of fellowship and spiritual growth. We give God all the glory for using us in these ways!

·      Maba and I hosted a special Christmas party in our home the week before Christmas for our church small group. We organized the activities for the night: read the Christmas story in Luke 2, sang Christmas carols, played games, exchanged gifts, and feasted! I was even able to find candy canes for everyone (after searching long and hard) and share how they are reminders of our Savior (red stripes for His blood shed for us, white for His purity and holiness). When we were new in church back in March this group of families embraced us with love and care, and they were our biggest cheerleaders on the mission field. This group of people became family to us, so we wanted to bless them with a time of fellowship and fun.

·      We also organized an event for the Young Adult Ministry on Christmas Eve. It was a fun making gingerbread houses, delighting in sweet treats and a cup of tea, and reflecting on God’s goodness within the ministry for 2013. Maba and I were so blessed when the young people surprised us with a gift to say thank you for our involvement this year. They presented something for our home that we didn’t yet have – a wall clock! So thoughtful of them! We encouraged them and affirmed them as being incredibly special in the eyes of God and to keep seeking Him in all things.

Evangelism Explosion Ministry:

·      Maba and I visited one of EE Fiji’s Hope for Kids workers and her husband. We have been mentoring Ranjini and Vashneel for about 2 years now. They recently moved into a new home and we wanted to pray over them and their new place. Ranjini and her mom taught me how to cook a traditional southern Indian dish called palau which was so fun! It’s chicken and rice cooked in all kinds of amazing Indian spices and herbs, a fave of mine that’s for sure! It was a blessing to break bread with them, encourage them, and praise God for His provision!

·      Maba and I were able to follow-up with one of the Pacific Interns, Kitione, from this past year. He had been enduring some hardships in his home and church that caused him to be discouraged spiritually. Kiti had been praying for a time to meet with us and share his heart since he doesn’t open up to many people. We praise God for ordaining a time for him to come over during a youth fellowship in our home where we were able to take him aside so he could unload. We encouraged him with the Word, spoke into his life affirming his God-given gifts and his spiritual maturity, and challenged him to see these obstacles as a testing of his faith and God preparing him for greater things to come. Kiti sat in front of us tears streaming down his face with a spirit renewed and strengthened to persevere. He thanked us for listening and uplifting him. Kiti will be joining us on our upcoming mission trip, so we are excited for him to continue using his passions and gifts for evangelism!

·      We have been busy finalizing plans to take a mission team to one of the outer islands called Kadavu to conduct an Adult EE clinic and Hope for Kids workshop. Both of us have never been there, so we’re excited for this new adventure! We have promoted to many pastors, gathered materials for the trainings, and started fundraising for the trip. We have a great team including other local EE workers, young people from our church, and a young woman from Australia who is studying to reach out to the indigenous people in her country. Our team will be fasting Tuesdays and Thursdays in preparation for the mission trip. We are seeking EXTRA FUNDS for this project so if you feel led to give please contact me or follow the directions below.

·      I was able to contact all the Hope for Kids workers here in Fiji and hear reports and testimonies of God moving in churches through children. In an area called Suva (about 5 hours from where we stay), our staff there have been doing a wonderful job helping churches implement the program. On another island in a town called Labasa our staff there have been following up with churches and providing refresher courses for using the materials to help their children’s ministries be effective in the area of evangelism.

Heart-to-Heart Ministry:

·      Maba and I were invited to help throw a surprise 73^rd birthday party for one of the elderly women (a recent widow) in church whose birthday always gets overlooked since it is on Christmas Eve. We along with her grandchildren and other relatives celebrated with her on the 28^th and she was moved to tears by the special and thoughtful gathering just for her birthday. The family asked me to pray for their grandmother which was such a privilege to thank God for the life of this mighty woman of faith.

·      This past month we attended 2 weddings. The first was for Niu, one of the young women who work at the EE centre as part of the catering team. In EE we always celebrate as a family! It was a beautiful and traditional Fijian wedding, and she was so happy we were there for her special day. The 2^nd was for Wilson, a Fijian-Indian young man whom we have mentored and served on the field with. It was a beachside wedding with all kinds of Indian curries and sweets served during the special reception. It meant so much to him that we had taken a one-day road trip (10 hours there and back) to attend his wedding.

·      Recently, we had a sailing adventure on an 83-foot schooner. We were blessed with a daytrip pass and went with Maba’s family. It was a beautiful day of fun in the sun and swimming in the open sea! During the outing I met 2 Fijian ladies also enjoying the sailing trip. We got to know one another and they wanted to hear all about what I do in ministry and how Maba and I met. As I shared my testimony, I saw tears in their eyes and smiles that came from encouraged hearts. They said to me, “Sarah thank you for loving our nation. Thank you for serving our people. It’s so beautiful to hear your story.” It reminded me that there are always opportunities around to share with others the importance of reaching out and demonstrating the love of Christ!

Christmas & New Year’s:

·      We received a package from my parents and sister a week before Christmas filled with presents and treats! It was so special to receive gifts since we decided not to buy any for one another. I was so happy to have a piece of home come to us!

·      Christmas day we attended a morning church service then had a big lunch with Maba’s family at his Mom’s place. In the afternoon we went out for dinner with friends from church. It was a wonderful day!

·      New Year’s eve Maba and I made a special brunch in our excitement for all 2014 will bring! In the evening we attended a Christian Praise Jam (concert) with friends for a great time of worship and fellowship to ring in the new year! New Year’s Day our church hired a big coach bus to go to the beach (where we got married) for a picnic which was lots of fun!

Prayer Needs

o   To be refreshed spiritually to kick off 2014

o   Mission Trip to Kadavu Island for EE trainings

o   Opportunities to serve in the local community

o   Increase of Financial Support

Thank you for continuing to be partner with us through prayer and giving! We love sharing with you all the great things that are happening on the field by God’s grace.  Your support brings us overflowing joy and allows us to carry on! We hope you have been encouraged by this month’s update. Please share with anyone you know will also be encouraged!

Ways to Support:

Online - www.eeworks.org
*Click on "Support" then "Online Giving"
*Type "Sarah Maba 6124" in the box provided
*Type in amount and complete the given instructions

*If support is to be monthly – please indicate
-OR-
Make checks out to Evangelism Explosion International and on memo line write "Sarah Maba 6124" (all checks tax deductible)
Mail to: Evangelism Explosion International
P.O. Box 23820 Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33307-3820

Abounding in His Grace,

SARAH & MABA